Hamas Blames Gazan ‘Rogue Factions’ for Twin Blasts

The Islamist Hamas organization accused rogue factions in Gaza of ‘seeking to divert attention from Israeli measures,’ after three Hamas militants were killed and several others were injured in two separate explosions.

According to Gazan witnesses, the first blast destroyed a motorcycle with two riders aboard as it passed a police checkpoint. Two policemen were killed and a third Palestinian was wounded. It was not immediately clear if the motorcyclists were among the casualties.

The second explosion came less than an hour later, and wounded several people at a police checkpoint elsewhere in Gaza City. The incident prompted Hamas to declare a state of emergency throughout the territory Gaza, putting security forces on alert for further violence.

In a statement released by the Hamas Spokesperson’s office, the Islamist organization vowed it would not to allow “under any conditions, any rogue group to threaten Gaza’s security and stability.” The statement further warned the domestic enemies of Hamas that “rogue groups will never be able to do what Israel has failed to achieve through its military offensives on Gaza,” while underscoring that Hamas remains focused – on what it defined as – its “national priorities.”

That said, the Islamist group called on other Islamic Palestinian factions “to assume their responsibilities towards fighting off” those responsible for the deadly blasts.